Jury awards $2.3 million to family of man shot to death by Marion County deputy

May 31, 2014|By Susan Jacobson, Orlando Sentinel

A federal jury on Friday awarded $2.3 million to the parents of a Summerfield man shot to death by a Marion County deputy sheriff.

Dashcam video shows Deputy Lauren Miley firing at 21-year-old Joshua Salvato as he backed away from her on a road in Summerfield about 10:45 p.m. on July 5, 2012.

Another deputy, Norman Brown, then shocked Salvato with a stun gun a dozen times over six minutes, according to attorneys for the Salvato family.

The jury found that Miley used excessive force, causing his death, and that Brown also used excessive force, causing Salvato pain and suffering.

Jurors further found that the Sheriff's Office did not investigate the incident before approving the use of force against Salvato. The lawsuit alleged excessive force, wrongful death and a violation of Salvato's civil rights.

Sheriff Chris Blair issued a statement declining to comment.

Miley encountered Salvato while responding to a call reporting that a man was causing a disturbance on the road. The deputies had Salvato on the ground when he got up, started fighting with them, then backed away, video shows.

That's when Miley fired.

A grand jury declined to indict the deputies. They were reassigned to the Marion County Jail, according to ocala.com.